“Your Book Is Your Hook” Show – Rick Frishman Talks Book Publicity, Publishing & Author 101
February 15th, 2011
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
Rick Frishman, the founder of Planned Television Arts, the Publisher of Morgan James Publishing and the creator of Author 101 University, will appear as a guest on the Your Book Is Your Hook! Show on WomensRadio.com. Mr. Frishman will talk about the essentials authors must have before engaging and submitting their projects to publishers, literary agents and publicists. He’ll also discuss why he co-authored his new book, his 12th entitled Show Me About Book Publishing, and how he’s using it as his hook to help others write and publish theirs.
NEW YORK, NY (February 15th – February 21st, 2011): Rick Frishman, a publishing industry veteran for more than 33 years as a publicist and the founder of Planned Television Arts, as the Publisher at Morgan James Publishing, and as the creator and host of Author 101 University for the last decade,will talk with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov about the essentials authors must have before engaging and submitting their projects to publishers, literary agents and publicists.
Mr. Frishman will discuss in detail what publicists, editors, agents and publishers like him want to see online to support the book project an author is proposing. He’ll also talk about why every writer should create a book proposal and some big mistakes writers make when approaching the industry with their books.
Rick Frishman is also the co-author of 12 books including 4 national bestsellers and he will discuss his new book scheduled to come out this Spring entitled Show Me About Book Publishing with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov. Mr. Frishman will talk about why he has chosen to have co-authors for all of his books, what to look for in a co-author and how to create a great platform as a team.
Mr. Frishman will also talk about why he created Author 101 University more than a decade ago to help authors and writers learn how to be successful with publishing books. He’ll also share advice for writers who are writing their first books and why co-authoring might be a good option for them.
Host Jennifer S. Wilkov will discuss the benefits of staying with your career in the ever-changing publishing industry during her Education Corner segment on the show.
Click Here to Listen Now: http://bit.ly/eYrMFR
If you have questions about any of these interviews or the education corner topic included in the show, please put them here in this discussion thread and I’d be happy to answer them.
“Your Book Is Your Hook” Show – January Recap & February Preview
February 1st, 2011
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
Click Here to listen this month’s interviews on the WomensRadio Network
January has been filled with great interviews about freelance writing, humor writing, Writer’s Digest and their conference, customer service, public relations, book marketing, a memoir based on current events and one of the most successful bestselling nonfiction authors. Woo Hoo!
Here’s a recap of who’s been on the show and quick links to listen to the ones you’ve missed:
Tuesday, January 4, 2011, 9:00am ET – Mike Sacks, a member of the editorial staff at Vanity Fair Magazine, a successful freelance humor writer and the author of three books, who will talk about his career as a freelance writer and how to start your own. He’ll also discuss his experience of being an author and his recent book, And Now Here’s The Kicker: Conversations With 21 Top Humor Writers About Their Craft. To tune in, Click Here.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 9:00am ET – Phil Sexton, the Publisher of Writer’s Digest Magazine and host of the Writer’s Digest Conference and PitchSlam this month, and Marci Shimoff, one of the bestselling nonfiction authors of all time and a New York Times bestselling author, will talk about her new book, Love For No Reason, which hits the bookshelf today. To tune in, Click Here.
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uesday, January 18, 2011, 9:00am ET- Beth Kallman Werner, founder of Author Connections, who will talk about tips for books sales and marketing and Susan M agnuson Walsh, founder of Little By Little, the non-profit ministering to those who need improved health and well-being, specifically in Haiti, and the author of Walking In Broken Shoes: A Nurse’s Story about Haiti and the Earthquake. To tune in, Click Here.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 9:00am ET – Peter Shankman, the founder of Help A Reporter Out (HARO), the founder and CEO of The Geek Factory, Inc, a boutique Marketing and PR Strategy firm, and the author of two books, who will talk about radically new ways of thinking about Social Media, PR, marketing, advertising, creativity and customer service. He’ll also discuss his experience of being an author and his recent book, Customer Service: New Rules for a Social-Enabled World. To tune in, Click Here
There have also been great guest articles posted on the Show Blog:
>> Freelance Writing Do’s and Don’ts by guest blogger and show guest Mike Sacks, Member of the Editorial Staff at Vanity Fair, A Successful Freelance Writer and the Author of And Here’s The Kicker: Conversations with 21 Top Humor Writers On Their Craft
>> Why Writers’ Magazines Make A Difference in Your Writing by guest blogger and show guest Phil Sexton, Publisher & Community Leader, Writer’s Digest
>> Giving Birth to Your Book by guest blogger and show guest #1 NY Times bestselling author, Marci Shimoff , Love for No Reason, Happy for No Reason, Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul series
>> Book Marketing Mistakes and No One “Silver Bullet” Strategy by guest blogger and show guest Beth Kallman Werner, Founder & President of Author Connections LLC
>> The Blessing of Writing About “Walking In Broken Shoes” by guest blogger and show guest Susan Magnuson Walsh, Author of “Walking In Broken Shoes” & Co-Founder of the non-profit organization, Little By Little
My educational blog articles have covered the following topics:
If you have questions about any of these interviews, articles or the education corner topics included in these shows, please put them here in this discussion thread and I’d be happy to answer them.
Great interviews coming up in February on the show: MIRA Books/Harlequin Editorial Director Margaret Marbury and NY Times bestselling author Robyn Carr will be on February 8th, just in time for Valentine’s Day for all you romance novel readers and much more.
Stay tuned….
The Dream of Success
December 27th, 2010
By Guest Blogger, Shawn Edgington
Author of Read Between The Lines: A Humorous Guide to Texting With Simplicity & Style
www.shawnedgington.com
I have to admit, the dream of becoming a successful published author was never included on my bucket list – until late 2008. The fact is, I’m a CEO of a national insurance firm where my company specializes in managing risk and preventing loss for thousands of America’s businesses. I’ve been working in the insurance industry for 25+years, which has NOTHING to do with the book business, let alone the 1001 l things you need to know to become successful within the publishing industry.
I was lucky enough to pitch my book deal to the Milli Brown, the CEO of a small boutique publisher, Brown Books, which is located in Dallas, Texas. Both Milli and her team worked closely with me to get my first book Read Between the Lines written, illustrated, designed and published in early 2010. They are wonderful!
Since then, I’ve joined an author coaching program, attended numerous seminars, teleconferences, webinars, podcasts, joined e-mail lists, purchased a radio coaching program, had my website redesigned three times, turned my book into an E-Book, created The One-Click Safety Series, spoken professionally to thousands of people, completed the manuscript for my second book, The Parent’s Guide to Texting, Facebook and Social Media and attended a publicity summit in New York City where I pitched my books to over 70 producers like The View, Fox News, The Today Show and Good Morning America. I’ve been a guest on more than 80 radio programs over the last four months, appeared on Fox Business, View From the Bay, Channel 4 news and CNN. And, I’m still working feverishly to become a successful author.
In an effort to help my fellow authors striving for success, I’m offering you this small but significant bit of advice that I wish someone would have told me:
- Every aspiring author (unless you’re famous) needs a great platform BEFORE you send your book proposals and/or query letters to the publishing houses. Your platform will include a great website, your weekly blog, social media, speaking events, and anything else that makes sense for your genre. Your website should be branded to you, not the title of your book.
- Writing the book is only 10% of the work. The other 90% comes after your book is published, and it is a full time job.
- The average author sells 300 books, and makes, on average, $1.00 a book. This means you have to be way above average to make a living in this business. Keep your day job, work twice as hard, and don’t expect to sell a million books in your first year unless you’re Sarah Palin or Kim Kardashian. J
- There are great resources available to authors to help you obtain publicity – too many to mention here. E-mail me if you would like a list of where I’ve found success.
- Come up with your treasure map of additional items you can offer for sale on your website besides your book. Example: Speaking, audio programs, electronically delivered items, subscriptions to your services, games, etc.
- Hire a web designer that specializes in working with authors AND monetizing websites. This is critical and will save you thousands of dollars. Check out my site: www.shawnedgington.com. I finally found the right person to get this right, $10,000.00 later. If you would like a reference, send me an e-mail.
Wow, I’ve learned a lot, and I’m learning more and more every day! If anyone has any great tips to share, or would like more information, please contact me at: shawn@shawnedgington.com.
Shawn Edgington, CIC
America’s Leading Texpert and Cyberbullying Expert
“Your Book Is Your Hook” Show – Fulfillment & Co-Author of “Chicken Soup for the Soul®: The Story Behind The Song”
September 6th, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
This week on the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show, Bret Ridgway, founder of Speaker Fulfillment Services, will talk with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov about strategies for authors to leverage in their Internet marketing efforts as well as the biggest mistakes they make when attempting to handle product fulfillment for themselves and their books.
Mr. Ridgway will also discuss the concept of perceived value, recognition of how valuable time is to an author’s work and the ten-to-one (10:1) rule of information marketing.
Jo-Ann Geffen, the co-author of “Chicken Soup for the Soul®: The Story Behind The Song,” will discuss with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov how she landed the opportunity for the book and how she presented its concept as well as how she gathered the stories for it from a variety of musicians, from well-known recognized names to those less familiar – all with insightful tales to tell about their music.
In this latest “Chicken Soup for the Soul®” book, Ms. Geffen will talk about the kind of impact the 101 stories are having on readers everywhere, which charities were selected for the book’s donations as per the “Chicken Soup” model and her suggestions for how musicians can continue to share their stories behind the song beyond this book.
In the Education Corner, host Jennifer S. Wilkov will be talking about storytelling as the hook for your book.
Online PR: 4 Ways To Outperform Even the Publicity Experts
August 9th, 2010
By Guest Blogger, Marc Harty, CEO of MainTopic Media, Inc.
www.google.com/adwords
PR 2.0 offers far more publicity opportunities than old PR ever did, especially for those who are not marketing experts. In the past, the media, as gatekeepers, deemed who received exposure and who didn’t. Online PR offers many ways to reach prospects, buyers and key influencers directly. To maximize today’s trends in Online PR, always focus on the following “four pillars”…
Online PR Pillar #1: Strategy
Strategy is “the what” and tactics are “the how.” The “what” could be anything from your brand personality to key business outcomes you expect from your marketing.
For example, what values does your product, service or company represent? One of my most important values is humor. Humor helps me engage my audience whether live or remote, as well as overcome the dry subject matter of search engine marketing.
Online PR Pillar #2: Story
The most glaring mistake I see is announcement-driven messaging rather than story-driven content. Announcement style press releases work if you are Apple announcing a new iPod. But with 5,000 press releases published daily, an announcement driven approach won’t breakthrough.
To overcome that challenge, consider developing a “Persona” and weave that through ALL of your marketing. A Persona is a role or character you create for yourself. For example, “The Underdog.”
There are many other ways to enhance your story, such as piggybacking on current events or popular culture.
Online PR Pillar #3: Search
Perhaps the biggest benefit of Online PR is its staying power. Old PR was often temporary. But with Online PR, when you optimize your content correctly, your online release is visible for weeks, months even years—by journalists and buyers alike.
2 best practices for optimizing your PR for search:
- Put your keyword phrase in the headline and 3-4 times in the body copy.
- Include your keyword phrase is in the first paragraph and the last.
Online PR Pillar #4: Social
The widespread social media impact of New PR is just beginning. As Social Media Strategist Brian Solis shared, “By driving Online PR from a social-centric position, companies can identify the right groups of people, determine their needs, uncover their channels of influence and use the tools and words that will reach and compel them.”
To become more social media savvy, many press release sites now include video, images, slide shows, and connections with Twitter and Facebook.
In summary, Online is one of the most powerful methods to effectively reach prospects, buyers and influencers. Use these 4 pillars as a filter to maximize both your article and press release marketing.
To learn more about Online PR, I invite you to claim your FREE Instant Access to my Optimized Press Release Template at www.prtraffictemplates.com
Marc Harty is an Online PR expert, speaker, consultant and CEO of MainTopic Media, Inc. Marc’s Online PR Made Easy system can help anyone at any skill level build business and buzz now and for years to come.
Book Reviews & Bestselling Author & 5-Time Oprah! Guest Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil
June 29th, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
This week on the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show, Beth Kallman Werner, the Director of Sales and Marketing for Kirkus Media, will talk with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov about what a book review is, why it’s a great resource to have in an author’s marketing kit and when to submit for one. She’ll also reveal how self-published authors can get a review as well as how they and traditionally published authors can use a review to revive a title’s sales and interest. Ms. Werner will also discuss how to turn a potentially negative review into a positive asset for a book and its author as well as why the source of the review makes a big difference.
Bestselling author Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil, who is internationally acclaimed, named by Psychology Today as one of America’s best therapists, and by New York Magazine as one of New York City’s best therapists, joins radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov to share her updated edition of Make Up Don’t Break Up in a candid interview that reveals Dr. Bonnie’s own experience with growing up with adultery in her childhood home and how that has provided so many insights for her to help couples everywhere to survive adultery.
Dr. Bonnie, a 5-time Oprah! guest, will talk about why social media could be killing the romance in your relationship, why women should make the first move and why couples should break up to test their relationship’s staying power. She will also discuss why she updated this book and how she is using it as her hook.
An Author Who Was Rejected Nearly 100 Times & The National Writers Association
June 21st, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
This week on the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show, find out more about the National Writers Association, a 73 year-old writer’s service organization. Sandy Whelchel, the Executive Director of the association, will talk about some universal problems that keep writers from getting published and why some never make it. She’ll also provide information about the contests offered to writers throughout the year.
You’ll also enjoy a candid discussion with author Bertha M. Davis who was rejected nearly 100 times for her book, Growing Up In Mississippi. Ms. Davis will talk about what was happening in her head as she continued to get rejection after rejection from agents, publishers and editors. Her positive approach will inspire you to stick with your project and get it published. She did get published and went on to become a bestseller for her publisher, win awards and even got invited as a guest on C-SPAN’s Book TV.
Ms. Davis will also comment on how important it is to share your personal story with others through a memoir and what has happened for her locally in her community as well as nationwide. Her book and story take place during the time of the Civil Rights Movement and she is a living legacy who touches the lives of everyone who reads her book.
10 Roadblocks to Getting Published
June 21st, 2010
By Guest Blogger Sandy Whelchel, Executive Director of The National Writers Association
www.NationalWriters.com
Are you wondering why that piece you wrote just came back from another publisher? Maybe you’re making the same mistakes over and over. Those mistakes can act as a barrier to success. See if perhaps you’re making some of these fatal errors:
1. Is your manuscript double-spaced on one side of clean paper? Is the paper wrinkle and smudge free? No editor wants to feel like they are receiving a shopworn submission.
2. Is your manuscript free of typos, grammatical errors, and misspellings?
3. Is the submission well edited?
4. Did you research the publication to make certain it publishes the type of work you are sending? Surprise! Popular Mechanics doesn’t take recipes.
5. Is your query letter, if you’ve included one, addressed to the correct person? Editors move around; you need make sure you are addressing your query to the right editor.
6. Is your query letter one page or less?
7. Did you make sure the publication hasn’t recently printed a piece similar to yours? Check the library and research at least six back issues.
8. Does your piece have an outstanding hook or lead? Editors receive hundreds of submissions per week. You need to hook them and keep them reading. They are the toughest readers you will encounter.
9. Is the piece presented in a logical sequence? Or if it is a fiction piece, does it have a beginning, middle, and an end?
10. Did you include your contact information so the publisher can contact you if they have questions?
All writers make mistakes, but presenting your work to the publisher as error free as possible means it will have a greater chance for publication.
Growing Up In Mississippi – A Memoir That’s Making A Difference
June 21st, 2010
By Guest Blogger Bertha M. Davis, Author and full-time Writer
www.BerthasBooks.com
Growing Up In Mississippi is a vivid and descriptive biography that grips at the very core of every human emotion as memories of growing up in somewhat painfully poor social conditions in Mississippi do not deter the family, but bond them together with the unified strength and triumph most prevalent in top movies like Soul Food, or even to overcome travesties as in The Color Purple. You will be intrigued by the strong development of characters like the wayward Uncle Wigley, a cursed character among many black families who resorts to inflicting abuse on family members. The relationship between Jay and Tish is a classic example of how women in the past wound up with larger unplanned families because love conquered all back then and even poverty.
The reader feels as if they are in the story and watching without speaking. It is evidenced that life was slower paced, but more fulfilling even with the absence of television. This is a modern day tale with a happy ending and heralds the rise of our families of the past through political and social upheavals as prevalent as The Civil Rights Movement.
This book is also about an African-American girl growing up with a single struggling mom of four who had to anchor the storms in her life to survive and take care of four children alone. Searching for food when there was none, working in the Mississippi hot sun from sun-up to sun-down, and haunted by racism are just a few obstacles one had to overcome. This book is certainly a book of history and you can listen to a sample of Growing Up In Mississippi Audio Book at: www.berthabooks.com on Bertha’s home page.
Additional comments from Bertha M. Davis about writing this book:
YBIYH: What was like to write the book and reveal your personal experiences with others in your life?
B: It was like revealing history to our future youth. In the beginning, my idea of writing “Growing up in Mississippi” (my personal experiences) was for my children and grandchildren so they could read about the struggles my life encountered as a child. I didn’t want them to have any excuse for fulfilling any dream life offered them. I certainly didn’t want them to get hung up on the crippling words, “I can’t.” Since my life had so many disadvantages, I felt compelled to tell them about my struggles and see my life as an example of how you can succeed in spite of obstacles. After only a portion of my book was read by family members, friends and book reviewers, I was encouraged to take it a step further so all readers could read my story.
YBIYH: Were you nervous about writing about other people whose actions and behavior would be exposed in your book?
B: No not really! People’s actions and behavior were already exposed in the towns and over the television during the Civil Rights Movements and before desegregation. If it wasn’t by personal contact, research was conducted before finalizing my book.
YBIYH: Also, what is it like for you now when you speak to others about your story? How does it feel for you? What do you see in them … in their faces? Do they say anything to you?
B: Sharing my life’s story with others is a challenge; history is reborn. I don’t live in the past. I live in the present but I never want to forget the days of defeat that God has allowed me to conquer. I feel honored to tell my life story, especially to the school children……I see in them a desire to learn more about the past….Their faces light up in amazement…..The students always say, “Thank you for coming and sharing your story with us.” The adults react differently; some of them will purchase a book because they want to know what is said, or they simply just like to read a memoir. There have been those who had sadness in their faces and most of them will say, “You are a strong woman,” or “You’ve been through a lot.” Some of my readers will send me a note to say how much they enjoyed reading the book.
YBIYH: What has been the most meaningful part of your experience with sharing a story that’s so personal and yet is benefiting so many?
B: One of the most meaningful parts of my experience while sharing my personal story and benefiting so many was when I went to Key Learning Junior High School here in Indianapolis to speak with fifth and sixth graders. It blew my mind. After my presentation, the students thanked me for coming, but a young frustrated girl came up to me and said, “I have been so ungrateful to my mom for the things she does for me and I sometimes talk back to her. But after hearing about your life and struggles, it gave me more of a sense of appreciation,” she said. About a week later, the young girl’s mom brought her by my house to buy her a book. It was so overwhelming just to get one child’s attention. She even emailed me several times to say hi and let me know that she really enjoyed reading Growing up in Mississippi.
Another meaningful experience was when Growing up in Mississippi was taught to fifteen students at Southwest Education Center in Phoenix, Arizona in 2006 during Black History Month. (15 books were ordered) The children who attend this private day school range between the ages of thirteen and eighteen and they absolutely enjoyed the book. The majority of the students came from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and had difficulty with reading but Growing up in Mississippi was comfortable enough for them to read without causing them any major frustration. “Growing Up In Mississippi has truly given some of my students the will and motivation to try to achieve a more prosperous destiny.” These words came from the Lead Teacher/High School Facilitator there.
Getting Rejected
June 21st, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
As authors and writers, we’re always learning about resources and industry tools that we can use to improve our book project performance and the enjoyment of our writing and marketing experiences. Today let’s talk about getting rejected.
As authors, we open our hearts and pens to share stories. Some we dream up and craft into clever and courageous novels. In others, we talk of real life experiences in either a memoir or a how-to book so we can share the knowledge we’ve gained with others.
Sometimes, we choose to share a piece of our nostalgia with children everywhere by taking a song, poem or story that delights our own children and giving this gift to the world by sharing it through a beautifully illustrated book.
On occasion, we’ll include something out of the ordinary with a book like an audio recording, tickets to an event, or opportunities to subscribe to more of an author’s knowledge or upcoming projects.
Not every person who wants to be an author makes it. Many get rejected. Some get rejected over and over and over again.
As a result, some quit and lose their tenacity to stay in the game and keep pitching their project.
Others continue to take criticism and guidance, re-craft their project and then trot it out again to see if they got it right the next time.
And there are those won’t listen to the advice sometimes offered in a rejection and continue to take the same package to another person, hoping they’ll see the merit in their project and want to take it on.
It is a privilege to be a published author. Although there are hundreds of thousands of books published every year, there are hundreds of thousands more that have been denied and authors that have been disappointed and perhaps discouraged.
As an author, getting rejected may be a part of your publishing path. It’s not uncommon. Rejection is often a part of the process for many of us. Heck, even Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, the co-authors and co-creators of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® books and who were acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records for selling millions and millions of books, started by getting over 130 rejections before connecting with the publisher that would pick them and their book up.
The guest author on today’s show, Bertha M. Davis, got rejected nearly 100 times before taking on a publisher that wasn’t necessarily so well-known, but nonetheless would publish her. Who knew that Bertha’s book would go on to become a bestseller for her publisher? So many before Infinity, a print-on-demand publisher, had said no. Who could predict that Bertha and her book would be featured years later on C-SPAN’s Book TV? Not the agents, publishers or editors who told her “this is not for me” and “I can’t take this on.”
Ask yourself: Do you really want to work with someone who wants to reject you and who doesn’t feel good about your project? Not really. It’s not good to have to work with anyone who isn’t as crazy and gung ho about your project as you are. Although the truth is no one will ever be as dedicated to it as you are, you want someone who is passionate about your project and wants to see it published.
Take rejections for what they are:
1) An indication that perhaps something in your project is not ready to be published. If advice is offered, consider it because it is what is keeping that publisher or agent from taking it on. Weigh it properly and don’t let your ego get bruised by it. Heed the advice you feel is helpful.
2) A sign that you may not have the right format or you may need assistance with crafting your pitch. If you’re not sure why you got rejected and didn’t receive an explanation, consider having your package reviewed by an experienced consultant or editor.
3) Encouragement to test your fortitude, commitment and courage to stay the course with your project.
Authors are a wonderful mix of emotional strength, creative force and incredible transparency. They give us permission to see inside their hearts, minds and imaginations. Few are rewarded for revealing themselves.
Look at the rejection you received today as a stepping stone that will lead you to the rewards you seek tomorrow.
